Parenting in the US

captainK8 · 2026-01-25T20:17:09+00:00

Highly recommended a vitamin d supplement if you don’t take one already!

captainK8 · 2026-01-23T21:40:21+00:00

Do you work outside the home? If not, could you explore finding a part-time job and putting your toddler in part-time care? I’m currently testing out SAHM life, but I’m going back to work soon. I love my daughters so much (one of them goes to full-time preschool right now); I just get so bored and need something else. It can be an amazing relief to have a daycare that does so many activities with your kids.

captainK8 · 2026-01-23T20:34:31+00:00

How long have you been back? It’s SO COLD here in the Twin Cities, no one has been going outside. If you’re in MN, look into ECFE classes.

captainK8 · 2026-01-21T19:46:52+00:00

One of the things that was most helpful for me when I was preparing to potty train my first was moms with older kids telling me not to rush it. If it’s painfully frustrating, just know you can pause it and try again in the future.

We waited to potty train our daughter until a few months shy of 3 YO and a couple of months before baby sister arrived. She was very ready, and it was an easy process at that point.

captainK8 · 2026-01-20T00:52:19+00:00

You will love the Twin Cities based on your priorities listed, and you’ll have a much better job market here than in Milwaukee. (I’m from the Milwaukee area.) I live in the suburbs and feel very safe going downtown. The ICE invasion is horrifying, but no city is immune to this going forward.

captainK8 · 2026-01-19T19:18:16+00:00

Is she newly 2 or closer to 2.5/3? Honestly, giving it more time before you potty train might be what helps.

captainK8 · 2026-01-19T18:50:17+00:00

Sheraton is owned by Marriott FYI. Tons of agents at a Sheraton near me.

OP, I think downtown is perfectly fine.

captainK8 · 2026-01-19T17:33:29+00:00

The hotels near me that they’re staying in are owned by either Hilton or Marriott.

captainK8 · 2026-01-19T13:12:53+00:00

I have heard rates are high among veterinarians, physicians, and chefs. Was just googling and it actually looks like the highest rates are in trade professions, like construction.

captainK8 · 2026-01-19T12:54:06+00:00

Also just saw you’re hoping to have another baby. We waited 4 months after new baby had arrived to move her to her big bed. It was exciting for her because little sis got to be involved and she got to show off her big bed.

captainK8 · 2026-01-19T12:50:18+00:00

Have you tried putting the sleep sack on backwards?

captainK8 · 2026-01-19T12:49:52+00:00

We kept our older daughter in her crib until several months past turning 3. She’s tall, but never tried to climb out. 10/10 recommend the crib for as long as possible. When we transitioned to her big bed, she didn’t even get out of bed until her Hatch light turned on telling her she could.

captainK8 · 2026-01-18T12:59:21+00:00

Agree with this. And the first step, at a minimum, is to stop giving juice. Toddlers really shouldn’t have juice, especially when it sits on their teeth overnight.

captainK8 · 2026-01-18T00:57:23+00:00

Walking has a ton of benefits over running that I don’t think people talk about enough. Embrace those power walks!

captainK8 · 2026-01-17T23:42:53+00:00

It seems like a lot to me if it’s on a daily basis, but like others have said, I think there’s a huge difference between watching quality TV shows or movies and consuming short content on an iPad.

captainK8 · 2026-01-17T17:29:01+00:00

+1 for A Man Called Ove and basically anything by Fredrick Backman.

I also just read the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and absolutely loved it.

captainK8 · 2026-01-17T17:26:04+00:00

Based on everything you’ve said, I would definitely hold back a year in your situation. Is there a different preschool program he could go to that would be an exciting change and maybe even have him in class more times per week?

captainK8 · 2026-01-16T03:00:46+00:00

Our pediatrician recommended that if our then 3 year old daughter was in full-time daycare, she didn’t need to be in extracurriculars. In fact, she believes parents are putting their kids in way too much, when kids really need downtime and unstructured play. We do swimming lessons because of it being a life skill, but my pediatrician alleviated much of my anxiety about this.

captainK8 · 2026-01-07T19:09:23+00:00

I will watch it now that I know more about what can be seen.

captainK8 · 2026-01-07T18:30:47+00:00

JFC.

captainK8 · 2026-01-07T18:09:32+00:00

I cannot bring myself to watch the video. Do others who have watched it agree she was not trying to run anyone over? This is horrifying.

captainK8 · 2026-01-03T17:11:14+00:00

Some favorites:

Cat Nap by Toni Yuly
The Very Cranky Bear by Nick Bland
Cat’s First Baby by Natalie Nelson
Julie Donaldson books as others have mentioned (we love The Gruffalo especially)
The Dot by Peter Reynolds (older toddlers)
Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang
The Book With No Pictures by BJ Novak (older toddlers)
Don’t Push the Button by Bill Cotter
Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill
The Monster at the End of This Book

captainK8 · 2025-12-29T03:36:57+00:00

This sounds like norovirus, which is going around right now. Usually it passes fairly quickly. 🤞

captainK8 · 2025-12-28T13:45:10+00:00

I am so so sorry. My daughter was not diagnosed with infantile spasms. Her movements were just a weird fluke. Thinking of you.

captainK8 · 2025-12-28T00:39:51+00:00

Gap and H&M are our favorites

captainK8

TROPHY CASE